How far do you walk on the Camino each day? In general, pilgrims on the Camino walk an average of 20 to 25kms, roughly 12 to 15 miles per day.
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The average age of Pilgrims walking El Camino de Santiago is between 30 and 60 with nearly 60% of Pilgrims finishing the Camino being in this age group. There are also 15% of Pilgrims being over 60 years old and this is a growing group with more and more seniors walking the Camino de Santiago.
Total Trip CostsMost pilgrim budgets fall in the $30-60 (€25-50) per day range, meaning a 30-day walk would cost $900-1800 (€750-1500). If you don't already have hiking gear, new gear could easily cost $300-600 (€250-500) if you need to get new footwear, backpack and sleeping bag.
I lost about 8kgs, around 18 lbs, over a four week period. So yes, I did lose a lot of weight on the Camino. However, losing weight was never one of my reasons for walking the Camino. I did not set out on the Camino to lose weight, and I must admit that it never entered my mind at any time while I was there.
In general, the best time to do one of the Camino de Santiago is between April and October. The months of July and August can be very hot and most Spaniards are on holiday so it's a period that is usually busy. But it can also be very attractive.
The best approach, especially at the beginning, is to get out and start walking (or cycling if you plan to cycle the Camino). If you are walking the Camino, you're going to want to build up to being able to walk 20km a day comfortably.
The busy months between May and August are the most crowded on Camino routes. It's worth remembering that the most numerous nationality on the Camino are from Spain and therefore their public holidays in this country also coincide with the busy times on the Camino de Santiago.
Public bathrooms are not frequent on the Camino de Santiago. But, cafes, restaurants and bars are frequent, you may find one or two during the day, and these all have bathrooms that customers can use.
The Camino Inglés, or the English Way, is the shortest Camino walk. Its name stems from the medieval English pilgrims who would arrive by boat at the northern Spanish ports before making their way to Santiago de Compostela.
Generally, most people believe that the Camino del Norte is the most beautiful in terms of landscape. This is because you walk along Northern Spain and at times have the option to walk on a direct coastal path overlooking the ocean.
The time of year that you choose to walk the Camino de Santiago may influence your decision as to whether you pack a sleeping bag or not. If you are walking in off-season, any time before March or after September, then you may wish to carry a lightweight sleeping bag rather than sleep sheet.
In high season (July to September) it is recommended to make reservations a little earlier, as there are more pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. However, since the specialized agencies on the Camino have a wide range of collaborators, even booking a few days before, it will suffice.
If you're asking yourself: Am I too old to walk the Camino?, you should consider that many pilgrims who walk the Camino are 65 years old and older, even in their 70's and 80's. It's said that the oldest person to ever walk the Camino de Santiago was 93 years young (she walked it with her 60 year old daughter!).
Albergues (Pilgrim Hostels) The system of pilgrim hostels (known in Spanish as “albergues”) are a unique feature of the camino, especially the Camino Francés, which allow pilgrims to sleep in dormitory-style accommodations for arou d €8-20 per night.
The Camino Francés often stands out as a top recommendation when talking about beginner-friendly routes. This route starts in St. Jean Pied de Port in France and spans 800 km, crossing over to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.